10 Essential Recipes for Your First Japanese Bento

Starting your bento journey can feel like a bit of a puzzle. What do you pack? How do you make it look as good as it tastes? At Bento&co, we believe that anyone can master the art of the Japanese lunch box.

To help you get started, we’ve put together 10 "must-know" recipes that are staples in Japanese households. These okazu (side dishes) are perfect for beginners because they are simple, delicious, and keep well throughout the day.

Before You Cook: How to Build a Bento

In Japan, a traditional bento is usually built around a main carb—most often white rice. A great rule of thumb for a balanced box is the 4:3:2:1 ratio: 4 parts rice, 3 parts protein, 2 parts vegetables, and 1 part treat or pickle.

For a deep dive into the "why" and "how" of assembly, check out our pillar guide: How to Pack a Bento Box: 5 Easy Steps to Build a Beautiful Lunch.

The Japanese Pantry: Your Essential Staples

Before diving into the recipes, make sure your kitchen is stocked with these essentials. These ingredients are the building blocks of almost every dish below, and can be easily found at any Asian grocery store:

• Soy Sauce (Shoyu): Provides that essential salty, umami base.

• Mirin: A sweet rice wine that adds a beautiful "shine" (teri) to sauces. If you cannot find it, you can substitute it for Chinese cooking wine, or regular white wine.

• Sake (nihonshu, about 14% alcohol): Used to tenderize meat and remove strong odors while adding depth. While you can find so-called “cooking sake” (ryorishu), regular sake is better for cooking as it contains no added salt and will offer a richer flavor.

• Miso: Fermented soybean paste used for soups and rich glazes. The white version is the most versatile for cooking as it has a softer taste than the red one.

• Dashi: A savory soup stock (often made from kombu, bonito, or both) that provides the "backbone" of Japanese flavor. It often comes in small packets for convenience, with a bonito drawing on the outer box.

• Sugar: Essential for balancing the saltiness of soy sauce and miso. You can use regular white sugar.

Other useful condiments: Rice vinegar (for tang), ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper.

10 Basic Bento Recipes

1. Tamagoyaki (Rolled Omelette)

The quintessential bento item! This slightly sweet and savory rolled egg is a favorite for its bright yellow color and fluffy texture.

• Flavor: Sweet-savory and delicate.

• Ingredients: 3 eggs, 1 tbsp dashi (or water), 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp soy sauce.

• Instructions: Whisk ingredients together. Pour a thin layer into a heated tamagoyaki pan, roll it up, and repeat until all the egg is used.

Follow our step-by-step Tamagoyaki recipe here.

2. Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and delicious even when cold—making it the king of bento proteins!

• Flavor: Savory, garlicky, and ginger-forward.

• Ingredients: Chicken thighs, soy sauce, sake, grated ginger, garlic, potato starch (katakuriko).

• Instructions: Marinate bite-sized chicken in the sauce for 20 mins. Coat in starch and deep-fry until golden brown.

3. Teriyaki (Chicken, Fish, or Tofu)

The name comes from teri (shine) and yaki (grill). It’s a versatile way to prep almost any protein and that adapts to many diets.

• Flavor: Rich, caramelized, and sweet-salty.

• Ingredients: Protein of choice, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp sake, 1/2 tbsp sugar.

• Instructions: Pan-fry your protein until cooked. Add the sauce mixture and simmer until it thickens into a glossy glaze.

Follow our step-by-step Teriyaki Chicken Bento recipe here.

4. Ajitama (Ramen Egg)

In a bento context, we often use marinated "Ramen eggs" (Ajitsuke Tamago) for ease of transport and a burst of flavor.

• Flavor: Salty-sweet umami.

• Ingredients: Soft-boiled eggs, soy sauce, mirin, water.

• Instructions: Peel soft-boiled eggs and marinate them in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and water for at least 4 hours (or overnight).

5. Kinpira (Root Vegetable Stir-fry)

A "staple" side dish made by sautéing and simmering root vegetables like carrots or burdock (gobo).

• Flavor: Earthy, sweet, and slightly spicy if you add chili.

• Ingredients: Carrots/daikon, sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, sesame seeds.

• Instructions: Sauté julienned vegetables in sesame oil. Add seasonings and simmer until the liquid evaporates. Learn more here.

6. Goma-ae (Sesame Dressing)

An easy way to make greens taste amazing! This is perfect for spinach or green beans.

• Flavor: Nutty, creamy, and sweet.

• Ingredients: 2 tbsp crushed sesame seeds, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar.

• Instructions: Blanch your greens (like spinach) for 1 minute. Drain well and toss with the sesame mixture.

7. Asazuke (Pickled Vegetables)

Pickles provide a refreshing "crunch" and a pop of color to your bento.

• Flavor: Salty, tangy, and fresh.

• Ingredients: Cucumber or cabbage, salt (or a specialty pickling mix).

• Instructions: Slice vegetables thinly, toss with salt or pickling mix, and let sit for 30 minutes before squeezing out the excess water.

8. Japanese Potato Salad

Unlike Western versions, Japanese potato salad is partially mashed and includes crunchy veggies and creamy Japanese mayo.

• Flavor: Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet.

• Ingredients: Potatoes, cucumber, carrots, ham, Japanese mayo, splash of rice vinegar.

• Instructions: Boil and mash potatoes. Mix in thinly sliced veggies and ham, then fold in plenty of mayo and a dash of vinegar.

9. Napolitan Pasta

A "Yofuku" (Western-style Japanese) classic. This ketchup-based pasta is a nostalgic bento filler.

• Flavor: Sweet, tangy, and savory.

• Ingredients: Spaghetti, onions, bell peppers, sausage/hot dogs, ketchup, butter.

• Instructions: Sauté veggies and sausage in butter. Add cooked pasta and plenty of ketchup, frying until the sauce is slightly caramelized.

10. Gomoku Rice

Gomoku means "five ingredients," referring to a seasoned rice dish cooked with various vegetables and proteins.

• Flavor: Comforting and savory.

• Ingredients: Rice, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, fried tofu (aburaage), chicken, soy sauce, dashi.

• Instructions: Place all chopped ingredients and seasonings into your rice cooker with the rice and dashi, then cook as usual.

Ready to start packing? 

A great bento starts with a great box! Browse our collection of authentic Japanese bento boxes to find the perfect fit for your new recipes. Don't forget a furoshiki to wrap it all up in style!